In both cases, fertility treatment can either repair or bypass the barrier. The experienced fertility specialists at New York Fertility Services make it possible to get pregnant despite structural causes of infertility.

Your fertility specialist is a skilled reproductive surgeon

Before conception can occur, we will need to correct the structural causes of infertility, such as blocked fallopian tubes, a scarred uterus or pervasive ovarian cysts. Without a clear pathway, an ovulated egg cannot travel to meet the sperm in the fallopian tube, and progress down to the uterus for implantation.

Fertility blood work can confirm that ovulation occurs on a regular basis, and semen analysis reports rule out male infertility. A physical exam and further testing allows our fertility specialists to assess the organs of the female reproductive system. The ovaries, fallopian tubes and uterus can have inflammation that prevents a pregnancy.

We can detect structural causes of infertility and pelvic inflammatory disease, or PID, with minimally invasive techniques that answer the following questions:

Are the fallopian tubes open?

A hysterosalpingogram (HSG) provides answers to whether infections or disease has led to scarring and blocked tubes called salpingitis. We can also verify the presence of damage to the fingered end of the fallopian tubes, called a hydrosalpinx.

Are there cysts on the ovaries that can interfere with function?

Some symptoms, like those associated with polycystic ovarian syndrome, can raise red flags for fertility specialists. Transvaginal ultrasound and further testing can confirm symptomless ovarian cysts or infection called oophoritis.

Will an embryo be able to implant in the uterine lining?

Operative laparoscopy is the only method to confirm the presence of endometriosis. If your fertility specialist finds uterine lesions and scarring caused by endometriosis, he or she can correct it at the time of diagnosis.

To summarize, your fertility specialist is looking for three potential problems with conception:

A blocked fallopian tube that prevents the fertilized egg from reaching the uterus.

A blocked fallopian tube that can lead to ectopic pregnancy, in which the embryo implants in the tube.

Problems with the uterine lining that will prevent a pregnancy from progressing even if successful ovulation and fertilization occur.

In women, structural causes of infertility include:

Hydrosalpinx (a damaged fallopian tube)

Ovarian cysts

Fibroid tumors

Large uterine polyps

Blocked fallopian tubes

Uterine abnormalities such as uterine septums, a double uterus or unformed uterus

Asherman’s Syndrome, or severe intrauterine scarring

Treating the Structural Causes of Infertility

Minimally invasive fertility surgery can correct the problem so that you can get pregnant. The usual diagnostic progression in a female infertility assessment is: